New moon: In Aquarius, Tuesday, Feb. 24
Full moon: In Leo, Monday, Feb. 9
Astrological sign: Aquarius, Jan. 20 to Feb. 18; Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
Gem stone: Amethyst
Flower: Iris
Harvard history snippet:
In the wake of the outbreak of the War of 1812, a national day of fasting and humiliation was declared for Aug. 20, 1812. Harvard pastor Rev. Stephen Bemis “took that opportunity to preach a sermon in opposition to the war and the actions of the federal government.” A great many townspeople were so enraged by the speech that a town meeting was called on Aug. 31 to discuss the matter. Supporters of Bemis tried to “pass a resolution proclaiming the constitutional right of free speech,” but the resolution was voted down by a vote of 73 to 88.
—From Directions of a Town, by Robert C. Anderson
Household tips:
• Hang a hand-held squeegee on a hook mounted with a suction cup on the shower wall. After showering, squeegee the shower walls to help reduce the buildup of soap scum.
• To open a grease-clogged drain, pour a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a kettle of boiling water.
Going green:
• Reduce your risk of exposure to toxic chemicals by reading the labels on household cleaners and personal care products. Look for words like biodegradable, phosphate-free, nontoxic, fragrance-free.
• Buy products in concentrate form where available, to help reduce the demand for product packaging.
What to do in the garden:
• Clean seed-starting pots and equipment.
• Plan your vegetable garden layout, if you haven’t already done it. Consider companion plantings to help discourage pests. (For example, tansy is said to help deter Japanese beetles.)
Thought for the month:
“The most serious charge which can be brought against New England is not Puritanism but February.”
—Joseph Wood Krutch (1893–1970), American writer
Do you have an almanac tidbit you’d like to share? E-mail to editor@harvardpress.com.